Thursday, Dec. 4
School Holidays
CSU Monterey Bay invites the community to spend an evening with students, local crafters and vendors at the university’s third annual Winter Night Market. This family-friendly event is a good place to do some holiday shopping; the community and student vendors will fill the CSUMB ballroom (room 101) and Inter-Garrison Plaza. There will be free hot cocoa and activities for all ages. Live music will be played by CSUMB alumnus Glenn Bell. The event is sponsored by Associated Students’ entrepreneurship club and the Institute for Innovation and Economic Development. [AP]
4-7pm Thursday, Dec. 4. CSUMB, Otter Student Union, 3118 Inter-Garrison Road, Seaside. Free. starteaga@csumb.edu, csumb.edu/as.
Light the Night
Strike up the band and cue the lights, the Pacific Grove Parade of Lights is back for its 22nd outing to welcome the holiday season. This year’s theme is “Jingle and Glow,” with floats, bands, dance teams and more marching along Lighthouse Avenue, all lit up with twinkling lights. You might even see little pug dogs in lighted mini cars zooming by. For sure you will see Santa Claus, who always makes an appearance in the parade. This is a fun event for people of all ages. It’s jingle all the way, rain or shine. [PM]
6-8pm Thursday, Dec. 4. Lighthouse Avenue, downtown Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 373-3304, pacificgrove.org.
Thursday, Dec. 4-Friday, Dec. 5
Art Department
All year, art students and faculty at Monterey Peninsula College are honing their craft. This season, the art department hosts a big sale of art pieces. Whether or not you’re shopping for a gift, it’s a chance to see what the MPC team is making across mediums, from photography to ceramics to jewelry, and to meet the student artists and their mentors. If you are shopping for holiday gifts, it’s a chance to support a budding artist with a purchase. This event is a fundraiser for the art department, with funds going to support the purchase of materials. [AP]
5-7:30pm Thursday, Dec. 4; 11am-6pm Friday, Dec. 5. Monterey Peninsula College (Art-Ceramics Building), 980 Fremont St., Monterey. Free to attend; free parking in Parking Lot B. abettencourt@mpc.edu, mpc.edu.
Thursday, Dec. 4- Sunday, Dec. 7
Book Worm
Yes, we know you can listen to an audiobook or pull up anything you want to read on your e-reader. But let’s agree that there is something special about a physical, paper book, one that you hold in your hands. Books also make excellent holiday gifts, and ’tis the season. A book crawl hosted by the nonprofit Friends groups at four local libraries gives you a chance to make shopping for gently used books fun. Whatever your mission is – treasure hunting for something obscure for yourself, browsing for new titles or gift shopping – this string of local libraries has you covered. There will also be snacks to power you through all four destinations, supporting Harrison Memorial Library (Carmel), Marina Branch Library, Monterey Public Library and Pacific Grove Public Library. [SR]
3-5pm Thursday, Dec. 4 and 11am-2pm Saturday, Dec. 6 at Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. 10am-5pm Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6 and 10am-1pm Sunday, Dec. 7 at Marina library, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina. 3-6pm Thursday, Dec. 4 and 10am-4pm Friday-Saturday, Dec. 5-6 at Monterey Public Library community room, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. 10am-noon Thursday-Friday, Dec. 4-5 and 10am-2pm Saturday, Dec. 6 at St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 146 12th St., Pacific Grove. Free entry. (831) 277-6477, investinmpl.org.
Friday, Dec. 5-Saturday, Dec. 6
Christmas Poetry
“The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word,” said Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan Mata Hari, a stage name for Margaretha Geertruida Zelle. Ballet is one such poem, where emotion exudes through precise movement, extravagant body language and incredible strength. Smuin’s The Christmas Ballet, “an ever-growing tradition” according to the San Francisco Chronicle, returns to spread yuletide cheer across the Bay Area and stops in Carmel. Michael Smuin – a ballet dancer, choreographer, co-founder and director of the Smuin Ballet in San Francisco – has new works this year by Julia Adam, Amy Seiwert and San Francisco Ballet soloist Myles Thatcher. [KR]
7:30pm Friday, Dec. 5; 2pm Saturday, Dec. 6. Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $75-$105. (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.
Friday, Dec. 5- Sunday, Dec. 7
Pier Review
Santa is a busy elf this time of year. But when Old Fisherman’s Wharf calls, Santa makes himself available. The Jolly Old Elf meets with good children (he knows who you are) every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Dec. 5-Dec. 21 (check website for times). But that’s not all that happens during the annual Christmas on the Wharf celebration. There is live music, a tree, displays and more. On Saturday, Dec. 6, the Monterey Police and Fire departments will be on hand from 1-4pm. On Sunday, Dec. 7, the colors fill the bay, as the Lighted Boat Parade takes place from 5:15-7pm. And, of course, there are all the shops and restaurants on the Wharf, as well as the ice skating rink nearby at Custom House Plaza daily. [DF]
All day Fridays-Sundays, Dec. 5-21. Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Free to attend. (831) 238-0777, montereywharf.com.
Voices Carry
Gabriel has a message for us. Just what, you ask? Well, we could tell you, but it is so much more fun to have the Camerata Singers perform it. The message is festive, told through the voices of the 40-member choir performing holiday music ranging from traditional favorites to contemporary pieces, accompanied by violin, cello, oboe and piano. And if that doesn’t get you into the holiday spirit, Scrooge, nothing will. [DF]
7:30pm Friday, Dec. 5 at Compass Church, 830 Padre Drive, Salinas. 7:30pm Saturday; 2:30pm Sunday, Dec. 6-7 at First Presbyterian Church, 501 El Dorado St., Monterey. $20-$25; free/students. (831) 642-2701, camerata-singers.org.
Saturday, Dec. 6
The Legend
Some of singer Etta James’ big hits are still universally known today. With versatility crossing genres from jazz to gospel, her voice spoke to everyone, but it was her R&B hits in the 1960s that cemented her fame (“At Last,” “Something’s Got a Hold on Me”). These timeless classics are part of the lineup at an Etta James tribute show, featuring the essential powerhouse vocals of Kaye Bohler backed by a nine-piece band, including a necessary horn section. Bohler is known for her vocal range; expect her to hit all the high notes. [SR]
6pm doors, 7pm showtime Saturday, Dec. 6. Deja Blue, 500 Broadway Ave., Seaside. $39. (831) 324-0044, dejabluelive.com.
Salsa Beat
Salsa adds a tone of flavor in both food, as a sauce, and on the dance floor. From experts to novices, everyone is welcome to learn basic steps and show off at the upcoming salsa event at Palenke Arts – from forward-and-back to side-to-side, from turns to dips. Attendees will learn with Andrea León from Baila Baila Studios. There will be live music by La Familia, a Latin-fusion band from Santa Cruz. All ages are welcome. [CJ]
7-10pm Saturday, Dec. 6. Palenke Arts, 1713 Broadway Ave., Seaside. $20. (831) 899-9909, bit.ly/salsa120625.
Sunday, Dec. 7
Give Peace a Chance
Can the gifts you purchase change the world? Maybe not, but maybe, just maybe, they can make the world just a little bit better – or at least our own community. The Monterey Peace and Justice Center is hosting its Holiday Bazaar and Open House, featuring handcrafted items, vintage jewelry, ceramics, art pieces and baked goods. Enjoy live music and a joyful community spirit as you browse for unique gifts for everyone on your list. [PM]
1-4pm Sunday, Dec. 7. Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. Free to attend. (831) 899-7322, peacecentral.wordpress.com.
Historic Spaces
The Carmel Heritage Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exactly what its name suggests: preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Carmel. What does that look like? They advocate for the protection of historic buildings, including the First Murphy House – built in 1901 at the corner of Lincoln and 6th Avenue – which now serves as a local history museum. But they also get jiggy with the holiday season, offering a festive self-guided tour of Carmel’s historic inns, with some local bites and wine to boot. The Carmel Heritage Society invites you to explore some of the town’s most charming, beautifully decorated inns – including Lobos Lodge, Lincoln Green, Carmel Beach Hotel, Cypress Inn, Edgemere Cottages and Pine Inn – while enjoying tastings from local restaurants and wineries. Be cozy, be merry, and discover some hidden gems around town and support local businesses. [KR]
2-5pm Sunday, Dec. 7. Various locations in Carmel. $45-$60. (831) 624-4447, carmelheritage.org.
Aquí para allá
Canada to Cuba. San Francisco to Sand City. These are not just travel routes, they’re the representation of musician Alex Cuba, both where he’s been and where he’s going. The Grammy Award-winning Canadian-Cuban artist makes a stop at SandBox to perform his sultry Latin tones, also drawing from African influences. Imagine if Jason Mraz sang in Spanish: That’s a decent example of what you can expect during the evening. His team reports that audience members often find themselves wanting to tag along with him on his journey to wherever he heads next. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, you might learn some anyway without knowing it. Pack your bags and get ready to travel, at least musically for one night. [SC]
3pm Sunday, Dec. 7. SandBox, 440 Ortiz Ave., Sand City. $30-$50. sandboxsandcity@gmail.com, sandboxsandcity.com.
Tuesday, Dec. 9
Inn Season
Many of Pacific Grove’s inns exude Victorian-era charm. An annual event put on by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce will make you feel that you stepped into a Charles Dickens novel. Holiday at the Inns is a time when many of the inns and other properties around Pacific Grove decorate for the holidays and invite the public to check them out. Go on a self-guided tour that includes the Green Gables inn, Centrella Hotel, The Charles Pacific Grove and other spots, enjoying music and refreshments along the way. It’ll be so festive that even Scrooge won’t be able to resist joining in the spirit of the season. [EC]